Letters to the Editor (3/12/25)

No ‘Breeze’

[From the Publisher: “Getting There From Here,” February 19] aptly describes traveling by air in February to escape the Vermont winter as “Russian roulette.”

I was rattled by my flight down to Florida on February 7, during which smoke filled the cabin. An attendant mumbled that there was a “fire up front.” The pilot explained that he had to “put the plane down as soon as possible.” There was a quick descent, oxygen masks dropped, and someone behind me said, “We’re fucked.” Landing in North Carolina, we were met by emergency vehicles. Made it to Miami by 4:30 p.m. No sweat, right?

I headed home to Vermont on February 11, the very same day Paula Routly passed on flying into Washington, D.C., and took a nonstop Breeze flight the next day. A few flakes were falling in D.C. at 3:30 p.m. when we taxied out for “de-icing.” Waited, waited, waited. At 7 p.m. the flight crew “timed out” under some Federal Aviation Administration rule. Back to the gate. Waited, waited, waited. A new crew materialized, whereupon we waited, waited, waited. We boarded the plane at 9:30 p.m. to wait, wait, wait, de-ice, wait, wait, wait. At 11:15, a sawdust-like cookie appeared on my tray table with a napkin emblazoned with “Cheers.” At 11:50 p.m. the flight was canceled, and we taxied back to the gate. At 1 a.m., in an airport hotel, I pathetically inhaled a can of Pringles. Made it back to Burlington on February 12.

I think I’ll drive to Florida next February in a Lincoln Town Car with snow tires and four-wheel drive.

Matt Daly

Burlington

Leftist Oligarchs

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders loves to rant about Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg [“Bern Rekindled,” February 26]. But when someone mentions George Soros, Oprah Winfrey or George Clooney, Bernie hastily says, “It’s not about individuals.” That is so transparently disingenuous. Even Bill and Hillary Clinton have amassed enough money to be oligarchs. Bernie loves leftist oligarchs.

Dick Mills

South Burlington

Police Assist

[Re “Shawn Burke to Serve as Interim Burlington Police Chief,” February 12]: Many thanks to the Burlington Police Department for once again offering the Community Academy program to those who live and work in Burlington. I recently completed the course and found it to be a basic yet thorough introduction to the many facets of the department and the way those facets interact with the diverse individuals within the community.

To further explain my interest: Since 2012, I’ve worked for a welcoming, inclusive and compassionate organization in the heart of Burlington. An ongoing goal has been to ensure that the atmosphere on the grounds and in the buildings reflects, projects and nurtures the three aforementioned admirable and objective traits. I’ve found this goal to be rewarding and educational in a positive and engaging way.

There have been isolated occurrences in the past when my communication and mediation skills have been insufficient when reasoning with an individual or group of individuals. In situations like these, when I’ve thought that life safety standards may be compromised, I’ve contacted the BPD for assistance. I’ve been pleased with its professional, reasonable and decisive response to the situation at hand. It was those positive experiences, and an ensuing sense of civic responsibility, that prompted me to enroll in the program.

Again, thanks to all BPD personnel who contributed to the program. Special thanks to training coordinator Constance Crisp, whose organizational skills allowed for a fluid progression of topics, regardless of unanticipated conflicts.

Bob Furrer

Shelburne

Thoroughly Puzzled

I cannot explain to you why I torture myself with your crosswords! I have a habit of using a pen, which inflicts more pain. I am also quite the plodding thinker, so it is not a 30-minute sit-down; these are days-long epic struggles.

On one of those 21-letter crossword spans in the January 22 puzzle, “Expansion Team,” “MARSHALL” formed on the line for “Actor who was always providing precedents.” Using the clue, I thought about “THOROUGHGOODMARSHALL” without luck. Nothing seemed to work. Using one of my best crossword strategies, I turned to my phone. I was correct about Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall, but still no luck.

My spouse thinks that I do well on crosswords. I recently discovered that the answers are directly on the back of my crossword puzzle cutout! Discreetly and maintaining some honor, I flipped it over and focused on just that answer.

With a furrowed brow and disgust, I saw “EXEMPLIGRATIAMARSHALL.” Is this some mental version of the rack?

Another plaguing example in that puzzle was “Classic toothpaste brand.” For this five-letter answer, confidenti exudia! “CREST,” right? Are you kidding me — “IPANA”?

Gregory Hennemuth

Newport

‘Great Sports Writing’

I just wanted to write to tell you how much I enjoyed Joe Sexton’s [“Year of the Dogs,” January 29] in Seven Days regarding the University of Vermont soccer team. It was ambitious, and Sexton nailed it.

I’m a Vermont-born Catamount fan who lives in North Carolina. In 2022, a buddy of mine up in Charlotte told me that I had to start watching UVM soccer games. This came as quite the surprise, but I took his word for it and have followed the magic carpet ride ever since. I’m lucky enough to live an hour away from Cary, and watching that game was truly the most exceptional sports experience of my life. I found myself bawling in the bleachers and hugging strangers in the aftermath.

With all that said, I have watched the team from afar. I’ve never felt like I really knew the personalities of the players until I read Sexton’s story. You brought them closer to us — the mark of great sports writing.

Charlie Pogacar

Burlington, N.C.

Hiring Op?

After taking a closer look at the firms mentioned in [“Vermont Aid Workers Reel in Wake of Rapid USAID Cuts,” February 12], I am struck by how many Vermonters affected by canceled USAID programs have the critical knowledge, skills and experience our state urgently needs. Vermont faces pressing challenges in environmental protection, health care and clean energy — areas where these professionals could make a real difference.

Montpelier should act swiftly to create programs that retain and harness the talents of these resourceful and innovative individuals. As the Chinese proverb says: “A crisis is an opportunity riding a dangerous wind.” Let’s turn this challenge into an opportunity for Vermont’s future.

Yatman Lai

South Burlington

More to See in Brattleboro

Continuing with your theme of Brattleboro being a cultural hub [“Extremely Brattleboro,” February 5], I wanted to corroborate writer Chris Farnsworth’s findings and augment them further.

Brattleboro has one of the more active and vibrant visual art scenes in our state. There are more art galleries in relation to the size of the population base than any other community I can think of. Among the notables: Mitchell Giddings Fine Art, a professional, well-developed space with a carefully curated roster of artists that the gallery represents; Gallery in the Woods, a wonderful combination of Latin American Indigenous work, self-trained “outsider” artists, well-executed crafts and jewelry; the Harmony Collective Artist Gallery, a large grouping of predominately local artists working in a wide range of mediums; and, finally, the CX Silver Gallery, a true gem hiding in plain sight. It is just enough off the beaten path to not be a direct hit for the unaware visitor to town. It is, however, worth a specific visit, having both a substantial roster of artists and exhibitions as well as an extensive publication program, all nestled around a takeout dim sum purveyor.

Additionally, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, which received a few comments in your recent article, has a very adventurous and pioneering exhibitions program, making it a must-see either when in the area or as an intentional destination to ensure viewing. Opening on March 22, we will be curating an exhibition there entitled “Nye Ffarrabas: Truth IS a Verb!” This will be the first museum survey for the 92-year-old Nye, one of the few surviving first-generation Fluxus artists. Her 93rd birthday occurs during the run of the exhibition and will be celebrated in the “spirit of Fluxus.” We encourage interested folks to come down to see this exhibition as well as the other concurrent shows on view at BMAC. While in town, please take in the many cultural attractions there.

Mark S. Waskow

Barre

Waskow is president of the Northern New England Museum of Contemporary Art.

Backward Photo?

The Café HOT. in Burlington Credit: Courtesy of Travis Walker-Hodkin

I am a regular reader of Seven Days and am very pleased with your overall level of proofreading. Almost nothing grits me more than an obvious misspelling in a good article, but something that is at the same level of angst is a picture that is obviously printed backward, especially when it involves a business name in a featured article. A good example of such is the business sign in the larger picture on page 13 of the March 5 story “Feeding the Local Economy.” How could you possibly have missed that one — especially in a “From the Publisher” essay?!

David Keenan

Essex

Editor’s note: The image is correct. The Café HOT. has side-by-side signs. One is written backward, as shown in the published photo.

Health Care Costs Too Much

[Re “State Treasurer Pieciak Proposes Medical Debt Relief Program,” January 21]: At the Vermont Office of the Health Care Advocate, we see the toll that medical debt takes on families.

When we interviewed Vermonters across the state about the impact of medical debt on their lives, the message was clear: They appreciate the care they received; they like and trust their providers and want them to be paid but often simply do not have the money.

State Treasurer Mike Pieciak recently put forward a proposal — S.27 — to eliminate up to $100 million of medical debt with a one-time investment of just $1 million. Requiring no additional state spending, the program would provide immediate relief to thousands of Vermonters. The bill would also protect Vermonters’ credit scores from being impacted by medical debt.

No one chooses to get sick or injured, and yet our health care system too often punishes people for getting the care they need. The fact that the United States has at least $220 billion of medical debt makes clear that this is a problem with our health care system, not individual failing.

We hope the fact that Vermonters have at least $100 million in medical debt to be forgiven is evidence enough of the need for bold, systemic reform to fix our broken health care system.

Vermont must urgently reduce health care prices to ensure that all Vermonters can get the care they need at the right place, at the right time.

Mike Fisher

Bristol

Fisher is Vermont’s health care advocate.

Way to Fly

[Re From the Publisher: “Getting There From Here,” February 19]: Breeze airline has become our lifeline between BTV and Fort Myers, Fla., aka RSW. My husband has progressing Parkinson’s disease, making traveling very difficult for him. We cannot risk layovers or missed planes at any airport in between because he would become extremely anxious and miserable. I book long in advance so he has a front-row seat, as he cannot get up from the inner-row seats. The short flight, usually three hours, is a blessing. As I travel with a cat, I can’t sit with him, but his seatmates are always willing to help open packages and drinks and even help him out of his seat if necessary.

It looks like most of the year Breeze will fly to and from RSW on Mondays and Fridays but currently has a Wednesday “seasonal” flight operating. I’m planning to do more flying back and forth by myself in the coming year. It will be nice to have flights that I can depend on. Thank you, Breeze, for sparing me any more traumatic layovers, especially at JFK!

Many Vermonters fly Allegiant between Plattsburgh, N.Y., and Punta Gorda, Fla., especially those headed to the Venice/Sarasota area of Florida. However, between having to cross the lake and Allegiant’s propensity to randomly cancel flights, I think we will see Breeze pick up many of its passengers — my last flight from BTV to RSW had many people who didn’t find out their Allegiant flight was canceled on a Sunday evening until they arrived in Plattsburgh. They were thrilled to find out about Breeze!

Victoria Ross

Colchester

Do Unto DOGE

[Re “Vermonters Brave Harsh Weather to Protest Trump,” February 17, online]: For the past few weeks — since January 20, to be exact — “DOGE” is the word that captures the attention of the printed and broadcast press and the public. But how best to declare the meaning and pronunciation of this amalgamation of letters? (Lexicographers, please take note.)

It certainly is not an official government agency, nor department, nor commission, nor whatever, as Congress never created it nor granted it authority. But it is, apparently, in Washington, D.C., the seat of our government of, by and for the people — or that town used to be.

As for the sound the letters make when pushed out together, as with any acronym that tries to squeeze or scramble a group of words into a new sound with a new meaning, I suggest (now, step carefully!), for the sake of clear enunciation, let’s add a few letters. Let’s now call DOGE what it is: DOGEE DOO.

Ross Connelly

Hardwick

Pointed Questions

[Re “Burlington City Council to Study Needle-Exchange Program,” October 28, 2024, online]: The Department of Health appears to be living with its head in the sand. In December, it issued an RFP to fund additional “syringe services programs” throughout Vermont. Despite the failure of the large program operated by Howard Center in Burlington, the RFP places no requirement for a needle exchange, for users to seek treatment, or for placement away from schools and residences. Minimizing impact on the community is a major omission. The department seems content to replicate the damage the Howard Center program is doing to Burlington — 15,000 needles a month dumped in Burlington and open drug use on its Clarke Street property — in other parts of Vermont. In addition, the RFP states that an advisory board made up only of supporters must be established.

Where are the voices of the residents affected by the center, of the police responsible for drug enforcement, and of the EMTs reviving overdoses and dealing with fatalities? If the target communities knew how badly Howard Center’s Safe Recovery center in Burlington is managed and the devastating impact it is having on the community, they would protest the creation of these drug abuse magnets in their communities.

Robert Perry

Warren

Good Deal?

[Re “Fired Migrant Workers Protest at Lumberyard,” February 7, online]: In this article, I noticed that the number of employees was not listed, so I counted the number of people in the picture. Minus the “20 supporters,” it looked like five workers, though it could have been as many as eight.

They made $16 per hour and had housing, including heat and electricity, for free. The value of that would actually put the compensation for their job at well over $20 per hour.

I think someone was egging the workers on to stage the standoff, and I hope they are going to help them get another job and housing. Their response of “That’s humiliating” to the rehire offer of $14.50 is exactly what they were trying to do to Lamell Lumber.

Lillian St. Hilaire

Colchester

Gov Deserves Better

Tim Newcomb’s editorial cartoon in your February 26 issue is very unfair in its depiction of Gov. Phil Scott. The implication that he is a DOGE stooge, stealing food from children, misrepresents his concern that school meals are subsidized for all, regardless of family income.

No one resents paying to feed children in genuine need; buying the meals of children of better-off families, however, is an unnecessary burden on taxpayers and, indeed, a subsidy for taxpayers who least need one.

Perhaps a universal meal voucher, free to low-income families and assessed on a sliding scale on the state income tax form, would address the issue of sensitivity and stigma to which poorer students might be subjected. Tarring the governor as a heartless Musketeer was a cheap and inaccurate shot.

Charles Siegchrist

Jericho